Explore the Western Heights!

Event Date: 27/05/2025 10:30 - 12:30

Are you ready for an adventure?

Join Ranger Lauren as we explore Western Heights discovering more about its wildlife and history as we go. Create a journey stick to remember your visit and see if you can complete our scavenger hunt to claim a treat at the end.

This event has been made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, supporting English Heritage’s Reaching Greater Height Project & Dover District Council’s Historic England funded ‘Western Heights Heritage and Regeneration Project’.

However, places are limited and booking is required. If after booking you are no longer able to attend, we would be very grateful if you could please contact WCCP to cancel your place to allow someone else the opportunity of your place.

Health & safety considerations:

Children must be accompanied at all times.

Our adventure will take us across the Western Heights from St Martins Battery view point to the Drop Redoubt where we will need to navigate uneven paths, narrow tunnels and steps and will be approximately 2km long walk.

Please wear sensible footwear. Please no flipflops, sandals, crocs or other open toed shoes. Please wear appropriate clothing for the days weather. Consider sun cream, sun hats and plenty of water if the weather is warm.

We recommend long sleeves and trousers to reduce the risk of insect bites

Accessibility:

We regret to announce that this event is not wheelchair accessible. We endeavour to make our events as accessible as possible, but due to the nature of some of our sites, this is not always possible. We deeply apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Photos and videos will be taken during this event to support the projects. A photo consent form will be handed out at the start of the event.

Parking:

Free parking at St Martin's Battery.

Meeting point:

St Martin’s Battery Car Park, S Military Rd, Dover, CT17 9DW

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Event Location - Western Heights

Western Heights Local Nature Reserve is a large area of cattle grazed chalk grassland, which provides a sanctuary for wildlife. The reserve is also of historic interest owing to two large Napoleonic fortresses: The Citadel and Drop Redoubt, which the reserve surrounds and parts of which are sunken into the hilltops of the Western Heights.

The reserve stretches over a ridge from the eastern end of Aycliffe to the western end of Dover town centre and is split into several fields: Maxton Field and Clarendon Field to the north; St David’s Field, St George’s Field and Ropewalk Field to the south; and Drop Redoubt Field and St Martin’s Battery Field to the east.

The North Downs Way, Saxon Shore Way and England Coast Path pass through the reserve and the site is easily accessible on foot from Dover town centre. Drop Redoubt Field is only a five-minute walk from Dover Priory train station. St Martin’s Battery Field provides stunning views of Dover Castle, the White Cliffs of Dover and the French coast. We manage the reserve on behalf of Dover District Council.